Harness-saddle



(Model.)

A. GILLIAM. Harness Saddle.

No. 241,209. Patented May 10, 183i.

N. PETERS, Photo-Lithographer, Washington, D C.

each end.

UNITED STATES PATENT Genres.

ALGERNON GILLIAM, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

HARNESS-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,2(19, dated May 10,1881.

Application filed November-19,1880. (ModeL) T 0 all whom it may concernBe it known that I, ALGERNON GILLIAM, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvementsin Harness-Saddles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of saddles which are hinged orjointed at the middle, in order that they may adapt th emselves to backsof various forms and sit easily thereon.

The invention consists in a check-hook provided at its ends with lips orshoulders to engage with the metal side plates in order to keep theparts in their proper positions, in providin g the hook having a narrowbase or bar with a transverse opening or mortise, which permits theconnecting-strap to be passed through the hook and the side plates to bebrought against the hook close together at their ends, and in thecombination of the side or top plates having flanges on the under sidealong their edges and a connecting-strap seated in their under sides andconnected firmly to them, all as hereinafter described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved saddle; Fig. 2, alongitudinal vertical section through the center of the same Fig. 3, aside oredge view of the check-hook.

A A represent the pads, made in any ordinary or suitable manner, andpreferably covered and connected at the upper ends in the usual manner,as shown.

B represents the check-hook, having its upper portion made of ordinaryform, buthaving its base in the form of a bar with a transverse slot oropening, a, through the same, and with projecting lips or shoulders I)on the sides at The base or bar of the hook should be made as narrow aspossible consistent with the required strength, in order to admit of theside plates being arranged near together at the inner ends. This hook isseated loosely upon the connection between the pads, and is secured inplace mainly by a strong leather strap, 0, passed through it, as shown.

DD represent two metal plates, each having depending flanges calong itsedges, and a loop, d, at the lower end, the loop being, however, ofsecondary importance and susceptible of change or modification. Theplates are shaped to conform to the back of the saddle, and are arrangedone on each side, with the upper end covering and concealing the strap0, and fitting closely against the side of the check-hook between thelips or shoulders thereon. The

upper ends'of the plates are secured to the strap and the pads by meansof screws (1, as shown. They are also secured to the saddle or pads bymeans of the terrets and ot' the screws d in the lower ends, as shown.The screws unite the plates, strap, and pads securely. The strap servesas a strong, but at the same time very flexible, connection between thetwo sides of the saddle, and also serves to hold the hook in its place.The hook, by means of its lips or shoulders, serves to prevent theplates from shifting laterally, and thus keeps the parts all intheir-proper relative positions.

If desired, the strap may be extended downward within the plates, toreceive the shanks of the terrets and the lower fastening-screws or theterrets alone.

The loops atthe lower ends of the plates may be omitted or they may bemade in separate pieces.

The saddle may be changed and modified as desired in the features whichare not of my invention, and in the latter any changes desired may bemade, provided the construction and mode of action are retained insubstance.

It is to be noted that the base of the checkhook consists of a singlebar, quite narrow and flat at the sides. This construction isimportantin that it permits the ends of the metal side plates to bebrought snugly against the sides of the hook and near each other-aresult which cannot be secured with hooks having wide bases or sideprojections.

It is also to be noted that in my saddle the co n n ectin g-strap passesbeneath the side plates, between the plates and pads, whereby the strapis the more effectually protected and secured, and lowered close to theupper ends of the pads, so as to give greater flexibility to the saddle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In aharness-saddle having side plates, the check-hooks constructed with anarrow central base-bar and the shoulders extending laterally from theends of said bar, whereby the hook is adapted to retain the plates inposition, and the bringing of the said plates nearly to gether at theirinner ends is permitted.

2. The combination of the shouldered book,

5. The combination of the pads, the flanged metal plates upon the pads,the intermediate check-hook adapted to receive the connectingstrap andshouldered to engage with theplates, and the connecting-strap passedthrough the hook and secured at its ends to the plates and pads, asdescribed and shown.

ALGERNON GILLIAM. Witnesses:

OnAs. L. SHRIVER, PETER CARR.

